Assistant Accountant

Assistant Accountant

Assistant Accountant required for a large public sector organisation based through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Location: Housing Centre. Adelaide Street Belfast

Pay Per Hour: £18.32

Full Time / Part Time: Full Time

JOB SUMMARY/MAIN PURPOSE:

The Assistant Accountant will play a key role in delivering all aspects of day-to-day management accounting and reporting requirements for a Division within NIHE. These roles are wide ranging in nature and will require the Assistant Accountant to flexibly work within a dynamic environment as business activities continue to evolve to meet increasing levels of business demand.

This role represents a great opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their accounting knowledge, skills, experience and career opportunities within a diverse business environment with a turnover in excess of £1.2bn per annum.

To support NIHE business delivery and our vision and values.

MAIN DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Management Accounting

1. Play a key role in the development of devolved budgetary control, supporting budget holders with the provision of reports, investigation of variances and providing advice on necessary corrective actions.
2. Plan, manage and organise the day-to-day operation of the relevant Finance section to ensure all transactions and requests for information are processed within organisational targets, timescales and procedures.
3. Maintain effective financial systems and records to fulfil the requirements of legislation, accounting standards, NIHE policy and financial control obligations. This will involve reaction to, and anticipation of, changes in legislation and policy.
4. Develop Team KPI's and assurances for the section, and a system for monitoring and reporting of these.
5. Liaise with senior staff on finance related matters across NIHE divisions.
6. Provide senior Finance staff with performance information in relation to the relevant areas of responsibility, ensuring that any issues are escalated and proposals for resolution are made.
7. Assist with ad hoc investigations and reports, while ensuring that regular reports are produced and circulated in accordance with agreed reporting timetables.

General Responsibilities:

8. Represent the Finance division on internal/external committees and working groups, as required.
9. Identify business improvements with the aim of enhancing the performance of the relevant Finance section.
10. Actively participate in the development and enhancement of the Housing Executives key systems, liaising with other Divisions as required.
11. Assist the Team Accountant to ensure that appropriate risk management, business continuity, business contingency, system security and procedural documentation is in place for relevant area of responsibility.
12. Provide suitable arrangements for staff training, motivation, discipline and performance assessment.
13. Deputise for the Team Accountant as required.
14. Other duties which may arise from time to time as identified by the Team Accountant which are consistent with the broad terms of the role.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Candidates must hold one of the following qualifications:

• the final examinations of AAT or IATI; or
• the foundation papers of a CCAB body (or equivalent) or
• a relevant bachelor's degree (where accounting is the major component) or equivalent qualification

2. Candidates must demonstrate a minimum of 3 year's experience in an accounting environment in at least 3 of the following areas in their application:

• Experience in budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and reporting of expenditure.

• Experience in the preparation of statutory accounts.

• Experience in the identification and implementation of business process improvements within a finance environment to drive improved performance.

• Experience in managing a team (Manager/Supervisor role) within a busy finance environment in order to ensure deadlines are achieved and procedures followed, whilst ensuring suitable arrangements for staff training, motivation, discipline and performance assessment.

• Experience in the use of an integrated financial management system, linked reporting tools and advanced spreadsheets skills.

• Experience in writing reports using SAP Business Objects/Crystal report writing tool.

• Experience in finance systems implementation projects, demonstrating experience in a key role in any of the following: project management, system testing, production of control procedure documentation, implementation support and training.

3. Can demonstrate:

• Ability to work as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to motivate and develop staff
• Strong customer orientation and commitment to excellent customer service
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work accurately under pressure of multiple deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail

Candidates may be assessed against the relevant section of the NIHE Behavioural Framework.

If you are interested and available for this position, please upload your CV to the link or contact Emer McNally on [email protected]

To be shortlisted for this role all applicants must meet the essential criteria. Please note that these roles may be filled quickly but your CV will be kept on file for future similar roles. As there are so many applications, unsuccessful candidates may not be contacted.

Successful candidates may need to apply for an Access NI Certificate with Staffline regardless of if you already have a valid certificate. It will be a cost of between £16 - £32 depending on clearance level.